Monday Nov 11, 2024
FT
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Friday, 13 October 2023 01:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday delivered a significant keynote address at the 11th edition of the Galle Dialogue; International Maritime Conference, which aimed to strengthen regional maritime cooperation and formulate a global strategy to face common challenges in the maritime domain.
The two-day conference commenced at the Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel under the theme 'Emerging New Order in the Indian Ocean.'
Delivering the keynote address, President Wickremesinghe began by commending the Navy for recommencing the Galle Dialogue after the COVID-19 break. He emphasised the importance of rethinking the focus of the Galle Dialogue in light of the changes brought about by the pandemic.
The President pointed out that the focus should primarily be on the Indian Ocean and the surrounding area. He acknowledged the role of Dr. Ram Madhav, a pioneer of the Indian Ocean Conference, in drawing attention to the region. President Wickremesinghe highlighted the uniqueness of the Indian Ocean as a civilization rather than a construct, emphasising its rich history, diverse cultures and religious significance.
He then discussed various global constructs, such as the Asia Pacific, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Indo-Pacific and how they differ from the Indian Ocean's cultural and historical context. He stressed that the Indian Ocean represents a political entity, given its history and role in recognizing non-European sectors of the world as colonialism collapsed.
The President also discussed the economic significance of the Indian Ocean, predicting that development would shift from East Asia and the Asia Pacific to the Indian Ocean, India, Bangladesh, and Africa. He mentioned Africa's potential for significant economic growth by 2050.
President Wickremesinghe underlined the importance of ports and their role in the evolving global trade landscape, emphasising Sri Lanka's strategic location and the development of key ports like Colombo, Trincomalee and Hambantota. He urged a long-term perspective on these developments and their global implications.
He also discussed the changing dynamics in sports and noted that various nations from this region are expanding their influence in cricket and football. He emphasised the interconnectedness between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
President Wickremesinghe proposed that Sri Lanka should adopt the ASEAN outlook of the Indo-Pacific as two distinct oceans and prioritise freedom of navigation and undersea cables in the Indian Ocean. He acknowledged that the emerging order could rapidly change due to global events and emphasised the need for wise leadership and diplomacy in addressing evolving challenges.
President Wickremesinghe's speech provided a comprehensive perspective on the Indian Ocean's unique place in global politics, culture and economics and its role in shaping the emerging new order in the region.
